Kibbutz Kvutza Rotation: Day One

Today MBI began their three day rotation while staying on three separate kibbutzim. Each pair of kvutzot staying on each kibbutz will have a chance to kayak on the Jordan River, tour their kibbutz, learn about the Kibbutz Movement, and have a yom kvutza on their kibbutz. During yom kvutza their madrichim run bonding activities and value based peulot (educational activities) for them)

Kvutza Kinneret and Arava, who are staying on Kibbutz Sha'ar Hagolan, toured their kibbutz today. They had a walking tour of the grounds where they visited the chadar ochel (dinning hall), the children's house, refet (barn) and other locations on the kibbutz. Through the tour they learned about the original Kibbutz Movement. They learned how all of the structures on kibbutz came to be through values that the chalutzim (pioneers) held close. The madrichim challenged them to then think about the institutions they have at machaneh (camp) and the structures they implement every summer to resemble the kibbutz and to adopt the values of the chalutzim.

Talking about kibbutz life. 

Learning about kibbutz structures. 

Afterward they had some much needed pool time (it was really hot there today). In the afternoon they visited Kibbutz Eshbal, a modern kibbutz that is not privatized. The Kibbutz is run entirely by members of Hanoar Haoved. Tamir, MBI's techni (technical director) lives there and showed the group around the boarding school that is based on the Kibbutz where he is a teacher. He explained to them how the boarding school came to be and about the demographics of the chanichim (students) enrolled. Many of the students are Ethiopians who come from underprivileged backgrounds. They come to the school for an alternative schooling because things were not working out for them in the schools where they were originally enrolled. The boarding school and where they go to school during the week is entirely run by HD's sister movement Hanoar Haoved and based in Karmiel.

Learning with Tamir about his kibbutz. 

For kvutzot Negev and Dan, it was there chance to kayak at Kibbutz Kfar Bloom down the Jordan. After the rush of kayaking ended and they were back on land, a pizza lunch awaited them. Afterward they had an afternoon of activities with their kvutza back at the guest house on Kibbutz Deganya

Carmel and Harel had their yom kvutza today. The yom kvutza the most relaxed day of the three in the rotationhey. Both kvutzot had chugim (interest groups) run for them. They had the option of learning about the Scottish Revolution, Israeli Literature, Kiyum Meshutaf (shared existene in Israel), and journal writing. All four of them enjoyed the pool later on, and bonding activities run for them by their madrichim.

Harel enjoying time on kibbutz. 

With madricha masa (tour guide) Anat.